Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: sending, by an initiating device, a request for a voice call session with a recipient device; receiving an indication of a capability of the recipient device to receive a text message if the voice call session is not established; determining, by the initiating device and before the voice call session is established with the recipient device, a text message to be sent to the recipient device if the voice call session is not established; and sending, responsive to the indication and after determining that the voice call session is not established, the text message to the recipient device.
A method involves an initiating device sending a request to a recipient device to start a voice call. The initiating device then receives a message stating that the recipient can receive a text message if the call isn't established. Before the call connects, the initiating device determines the text message to send. If the voice call fails to connect, the initiating device sends the prepared text message to the recipient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises: causing display, by the initiating device, of a text message prompt, wherein the causing the display is responsive to the receiving the indication.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), the step of determining the text message involves the initiating device displaying a text input box on its screen. This display of the text input box happens because the device received the message indicating the recipient could receive text.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether the voice call session is established with the recipient device, wherein the determining whether the voice call session is established comprises determining that a period of time has elapsed since the sending the request for the voice call session.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), the method also includes checking if the voice call actually connected. This check for call establishment is done by determining that a specific amount of time has passed since the initial voice call request was sent.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving, by the initiating device and from the recipient device, a communication of the period of time.
The method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, sends it if the call fails, and checks if the call connected by measuring elapsed time (as described previously) also involves the initiating device receiving information about how long to wait (the period of time) from the recipient device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text message is based on a user input that is received via a text messaging application.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), the text message content is based on user input. This input is entered through a text messaging application on the initiating device.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: responsive to the receiving the indication, determining, by the initiating device, that the recipient device is capable of receiving, as an alternative to a voice message, the text message if the voice call session is not established.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), after receiving the indication, the initiating device determines if the recipient can actually receive text messages as an alternative to a voicemail if the voice call cannot be established.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the text message comprises: generating a user interface associated with modifying the text message, and wherein the sending the text message comprises sending, via the user interface, the text message if the voice call session is not established.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), determining the text message includes opening an interface that allows the user to change the text. Sending the text message means using this interface to send the message if the voice call is not established.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving user input associated with modifying the text message via a text messaging application, prior to sending the text message.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), the user modifies the text message using a text messaging application *before* the text message is sent.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the text message comprises prompting selection, via a text messaging application, of at least one predefined text message as the text message.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), determining the text message involves prompting the user to select from a list of pre-written text messages within a text messaging application. The user's selection then becomes the text message that is sent.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating, by the initiating device, a user interface; and prompting, via the user interface, for the text message to be sent as an alternative to leaving a voice message.
In the method where an initiating device sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, prepares a text message, and sends it if the call fails (as described previously), the initiating device creates a screen (user interface) that asks the user if they want to send a text message instead of leaving a voicemail.
11. A method comprising: determining, by a computing device, a text message; sending, by the computing device, a request to establish a voice call session with a recipient device; receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a capability of the recipient device to receive a text message if the voice call session is not established; determining, after the receiving the indication, that the voice call session has not been established; and responsive to the determining that the voice call session has not been established, sending the text message to the recipient device.
A method has a device figure out a text message. Then, the device sends a request to start a voice call with another device. The first device gets a message saying the other device can receive text messages if the call doesn't connect. After getting that message, the first device figures out that the call hasn't connected. Because the call failed, the first device sends the pre-determined text message to the other device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining that the voice call session has not been established comprises determining that a period of time has elapsed since sending the request to establish the voice call session.
In the method where a device determines a text message, sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, determines call failure, and sends the text (as described previously), determining the voice call session has not been established involves checking if a certain amount of time has passed since the call request was sent.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining the text message comprises: prompting, via a text input application, selection of at least one predefined text message as the text message.
In the method where a device determines a text message, sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, determines call failure, and sends the text (as described previously), figuring out the text message to send involves displaying a prompt within a text input application. This prompt asks the user to select from a list of ready-made text messages.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising: generating, by the computing device, a user interface; and prompting, via the user interface, for the text message to be sent as an alternative to leaving a voice message.
In the method where a device determines a text message, sends a call request, receives a text message capability indication, determines call failure, and sends the text (as described previously), the computing device creates a display (user interface) that asks the user to send a text message instead of leaving a voicemail.
15. A method comprising: receiving, by a recipient device from a computing device, a request to initiate a voice call session; sending, by the recipient device to the computing device and while the request to initiate the voice call session is pending, an indication of a capability of the recipient device to receive a text message intended for the recipient device if the voice call session is not established; and after sending the indication and while the request to initiate the voice call session is pending, receiving, by the recipient device and from the computing device, the text message.
A recipient device gets a request from another device to start a voice call. While that call request is still pending, the recipient device sends a message back saying it can receive text messages. After sending that message and while the call is still pending, the recipient device receives a text message from the initiating device.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving, while the request to initiate the voice call session is pending, a second indication indicating that the computing device will send the text message; and responsive to the second indication, declining to initiate the voice call session.
In the method where a recipient receives a call request, sends a text message capability indication, and then receives a text message (as described previously), the recipient device also receives a second message that states the initiating device will be sending a text message. When the recipient device receives this second message, it refuses to answer the voice call.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sending, the computing device, a second indication instructing the computing device to send the text message responsive to a period of time elapsing.
In the method where a recipient receives a call request, sends a text message capability indication, and then receives a text message (as described previously), the recipient device also sends a second message. This second message tells the initiating device to send the text message only if a certain amount of time has passed without the call being answered.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the indication comprises a second text message that is selected from one or more predetermined text messages via a text messaging application.
In the method where a recipient receives a call request, sends a text message capability indication, and then receives a text message (as described previously), the indication message sent by the recipient is a text message chosen from a selection of pre-written text messages using a text messaging application.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: generating, by the recipient device, a user interface; and prompting, via the user interface, for a selection associated with the sending the indication indicating the capability of the recipient device to receive the text message as an alternative to a voice message.
In the method where a recipient receives a call request, sends a text message capability indication, and then receives a text message (as described previously), the recipient device creates a display (user interface) asking the user to select an option to indicate that they can receive text messages as an alternative to a voicemail.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the indication indicates a preference to receive the text message as an alternative to a voice message if the voice call session is not established and while the request to initiate the voice call session is pending.
In the method where a recipient receives a call request, sends a text message capability indication, and then receives a text message (as described previously), the message sent by the recipient indicates that they would prefer to receive a text message rather than a voicemail if the voice call can't be connected while the call request is still pending.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 15, 2014
May 9, 2017
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